Netflix has exciting news for fans of romance dramas set in the world of sports. The popular streaming service announced on Monday that it will be bringing to life the best-selling book “Icebreaker” by English author Hannah Grace as a new college romance drama series.
“Icebreaker,” a young adult romance novel published in 2022, tells the story of Anastasia Allen, an ambitious figure skater, and Nate Hawkins, a charismatic hockey team captain. The two characters find themselves falling in love after being forced to share the ice at the fictional University of California, Maple Hills campus.
The novel quickly rose to the top, becoming a New York Times bestseller and selling nearly five million copies worldwide, with translations in 24 languages. Netflix described the plot as a collision of ambitions, where discipline gives way to obsession as Anastasia and Nate find themselves wanting not just to win, but each other.
Jinny Howe, Netflix’s head of scripted series for the U.S. and Canada, unveiled the new series at the Banff World Media Festival. Howe expressed Netflix’s commitment to bringing beloved romance novels to global audiences, citing the overwhelming demand for such stories among members.
The upcoming series follows the success of Crave’s “Heated Rivalry,” based on novels by Canadian author Rachel Reid. Both “Icebreaker” and “Heated Rivalry” contribute to the growing popularity of sports romance books, particularly in the realm of hockey, alongside titles like “Canadian Boyfriend,” “Body Check,” and “Pucking Sweet.”
“Icebreaker” is the first installment in Grace’s Maple Hills series, which includes “Wildfire” (2023) and “Daydream” (2025), all unfolding at the University of California campus bearing the same name. Amanda Lasher, known for her work on shows like “Riverdale” and “Gossip Girl,” will serve as the showrunner for “Icebreaker.”
The series is poised to capture the essence of steamy young adult romance, appealing to fans of the genre and those intrigued by the captivating dynamics of love and ambition on and off the ice.